Method for corroborating a gaming jackpot payment

ABSTRACT

A method for authorizing a witness-less manual payment of a gaming jackpot includes comparing a jackpot transaction value from a payment user to a maximum witness-less hand-payment jackpot value and to a jackpot value from the gaming machine. Confirmed jackpots of suitable value can be authorized for hand-payment without a corroborating human witness. The maximum value is selectable by the casino.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is related to the field of gaming jackpot manual payments, and more specifically to a method for electronically corroborating a jackpot manual payment to a player.

[0002] Gaming machines operate via collection of player bets at the machine. A gaming machine is structured to award a winning value (jackpot) on a random basis. The gaming machine further can award a variety of jackpot values based on different parameters, such as bet amount, bet multipliers, combinational factors, and the structure and rules of the particular game.

[0003] Jackpot awards can be paid to a winning player via triggered dispensing of coins or other objects of value from the gaming machine. Gaming machine dispensing is generally used for lower value jackpots. For larger jackpot values, however, unsupervised dispensing from the gaming machine is undesirable as available storage space in the gaming machine for coins or tokens is limited. Further, unsupervised jackpot payments through a gaming machine are more difficult to regulate and can provide opportunities for theft.

[0004] As an alternative to gaming machine dispensing, casino personnel can designate a casino payment attendant to hand-pay a jackpot amount to a winning player. This “hand-pay” procedure addresses the above concerns, and further increases the player's gaming experience in receiving personalized attention from the casino staff.

[0005] Unfortunately, hand-payment of a jackpot presents several disadvantages. Jackpot hand-payment by a single attendant without a corroborating witness also offers the opportunity for employee fraud and embezzlement. The requirement for payment by a casino employee (casino payer) increases the labor cost of the casino.

[0006] Moreover, casinos require two casino personnel to review the jackpot and witness the jackpot payment to the winning player, as is mandated by state or other governmental regulation of gaming operations. The time required to verify and complete a witnessed jackpot payment increases the overall time for the jackpot payment process.

[0007] As well, casinos typically suspend or lock a winning gaming machine until the jackpot can be verified and paid. The player's gaming experience thus is negatively impacted: the player must wait for the jackpot payment and is unable to resume gaming while the gaming machine is suspended. The time during which the gaming machine is locked also negatively impacts potential casino revenue.

[0008] A player may play a gaming machine for a period of time, accumulating winnings on the gaming machine, e.g., as credits. At the end of play, the player may wish to “cash out” and receive the accumulated winnings as cash or other takeaway value. If the cash-out amount is greater than an amount traditionally paid from the hopper, casinos generally employ the conventional payment procedure detailed above for hand payment of a jackpot.

[0009] The invention will become more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description, which proceeds with reference to the drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a conventional method for a witnessed hand-payment of a gaming jackpot.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a conventional method for a witnessed pouch-payment of a gaming jackpot.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a witness-less pouch-payment of a gaming jackpot according to the present disclosure.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first alternative method for a witness-less hand-payment of a gaming jackpot.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a witness-less pouch-payment of a gaming jackpot according to the present disclosure.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a verification step in the witness-less jackpot payment method as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0016] Generally, the present invention provides a method for electronically witnessing a jackpot hand-payment. More particularly, the present method facilitates hand-payment of a gaming jackpot by a single casino employee without a human witness.

[0017] The basic casino hardware generally includes one or more networked gaming machines, such as an array of slot machines. An example modern gaming network is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,483B1, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the teachings of which are incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes.

[0018] Also coupled to the gaming network are one or more jackpot center servers typically located in a secure area off the casino floor. As well, a casino also can include on the casino floor a floor jackpot (FJP) station.

[0019] In a conventional jackpot hand-payment scheme as shown in FIG. 1, a gaming player wins a jackpot and a jackpot signal is sent from a gaming machine. For a networked gaming machine, the jackpot signal can be communicated to the jackpot center server that is coupled to the gaming network.

[0020] A payment attendant goes to the gaming machine and inputs a code to initiate a jackpot payment transaction. The gaming machine usually is suspended at this point, retaining the jackpot information and prohibiting further play.

[0021] Next, the payment attendant goes to the FJP station to complete the transaction. The payment attendant receives a jackpot payment form and funds with which to pay the winning player.

[0022] The payment attendant then returns to the gaming machine. Another attendant, serving as a jackpot payment witness, also must be present at the gaming machine. The payment attendant then can transfer funds equal to the jackpot amount to the winning player, with the second attendant witnessing the transfer.

[0023] The witnessing attendant must record his physical presence at the payment event, either by inputting a code into the gaming machine or by signing the jackpot payment form.

[0024] As a variation of this scheme, a prior art “pouch pay” method can be used for smaller jackpot amounts. In this variation illustrated in FIG. 2, the payment attendant can be supplied by the casino with an amount of funds. If the jackpot won by the player is less than a maximum amount selectable by the casino, the payment attendant is authorized to immediately pay the jackpot amount to the player.

[0025] In a pouch-pay method, the payment attendant can input a code and thereby request a witnessing attendant to come to the gaming machine. The witnessing attendant then can witness the jackpot payment (i.e., transfer of value to the player) and evidence his presence via entry of a code into the gaming machine. The payment attendant later can initiate and complete the jackpot payment transaction in the network. A jackpot payment form generated by the payment attendant can bear the witnessing attendant's coded entry as proof that the jackpot payment was witnessed by the witnessing attendant.

[0026] In either case, it can be appreciated that manual payment of a jackpot to a player requires two casino employees at the gaming machine. This requirement results in delay, increases casino operating costs and reduces revenues.

[0027] Turning to FIG. 3, the present method for witness-less corroboration of a jackpot payment generally includes receiving a jackpot winning signal from a gaming machine. The jackpot signal can include a jackpot value of a player, as well as gaming machine identification data, chronological data, and the like. The gaming machine typically may suspend further gaming play thereon until the jackpot is verified and paid.

[0028] The network can at this point verify that the jackpot value is not greater than a maximum witness-less jackpot value can be set by the casino. If so, conventional witnessed hand-payment methodology can be employed.

[0029] If the jackpot value is suitable for witness-less hand-payment, a jackpot payment user enters an identification code at the electronic gaming machine (EGM) to initiate a jackpot payment transaction request. The identification code can be validated to ensure that the jackpot payment user is authorized to proceed with a witness-less jackpot payment.

[0030] Typically, the jackpot payment user does not carry sufficient cash or other value forms to pay the jackpot without first being dispensed funds from a remote station, such as a floor jackpot (FJP) station. In this scenario, the payment user enters the user identification code at the FJP and selects the transaction initiated at the EGM.

[0031] The network can then compare the jackpot value of the jackpot signal from the EGM with the jackpot payment request value. The jackpot request amount alternatively can be verified by the attendant selecting “OK” or a similar entry.

[0032] In cases wherein the user attempts or is required to pay an amount other than the jackpot value, the network can decline a witness-less transaction and require instead a conventional witnessed jackpot payment. It is preferable that amending a jackpot amount should require entry of an ID code of a supervisor or other authorized casino employee.

[0033] If the jackpot value signaled by the EGM matches the requested jackpot payment value, the network can dispense the appropriate funds to the jackpot payment user and authorize an unwitnessed jackpot payment to the gaming player. Data relevant to the transaction request and payment can also be stored for future use.

[0034] A witness-less hand-payment of a jackpot is illustrated in FIG. 4. The payment attendant is alerted to the jackpot event, confirms the jackpot at the gaming machine, and initiates a jackpot payment transaction by, e.g., swiping a card in a networked card reader and/or inputting a code.

[0035] Initiation of a jackpot payment transaction generates a payment user transaction signal, which is communicated to the jackpot center server. The transaction signal can include a payment user identifier, a jackpot transaction value, and other data relevant to the jackpot transaction.

[0036] The jackpot center server can verify the jackpot by comparing the jackpot transaction value to a maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value. The jackpot center server further generates a confirmed jackpot value if the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal is equal to the jackpot transaction value of the transaction signal.

[0037] If a confirmed jackpot value signal is not generated, the jackpot center server will decline to authorize a witness-less jackpot payment. The jackpot center server can generate an unconfirmed jackpot value signal for use in a casino's internal financial control. A witness summoning signal also can be generated and a conventional witnessed hand-payment scheme can be followed.

[0038] The jackpot center server further can verify the jackpot amount is eligible for witness-less payment. For example, the jackpot transaction value can be compared to a maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value. The maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value preferably is a selectable value, such that the casino can determine a minimum financial level above which a witnessing attendant will be required.

[0039] Although FIG. 4 shows the jackpot request value verification before input of a payment user ID code, the two steps can be reversed without material difference to the described method. In other words, the system alternatively can receive a payment attendant ID code before verifying the jackpot request amount.

[0040] If the jackpot value is such that it is eligible for witness-less payment and a confirmed jackpot value signal is generated, the jackpot center server can authorize the payment attendant to transfer the confirmed jackpot value to the player without a requirement for a corroborating payment witnessing user. If the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal is greater than the maximum witness-less value, the jackpot center server will decline to authorize a witness-less payment.

[0041] In the case of denial of authorization to proceed without a witnessing attendant, the jackpot center server can issue a witness summoning signal to summon a witnessing attendant to the gaming machine per a conventional witnessed hand-payment.

[0042] Such authorization typically is required for the payment attendant to be dispensed funds sufficient to make the jackpot hand-payment. Dispensing of funds or other value to the payment attendant can be via a casino cash dispensing employee, automated funds dispenser, or other means.

[0043] The FJP also creates a record of the witness-less jackpot value transfer (e.g., prints a jackpot payment transaction receipt), including indicia indicating that authorization was granted for hand-payment without the requirement for a corroborating payment witnessing user. For example, the jackpot payment form can bear the legend “Witness Not Required” or “Electronically Witnessed” in place of a space for a witness signature.

[0044] The payment attendant, having caused a jackpot payment form to be generated and having received funds, can return to the gaming machine. The payment attendant then pays the player, without a witnessing attendant, and unlocks the gaming machine for further gaming play.

[0045] Payment of the jackpot value to the winning player can be accomplished by dispensing cash, check or tokens for the amount of the jackpot value, a printed jackpot ticket, or one or more objects of value. These forms of payment are known to those in the art. For casinos so equipped, the payment attendant also can assign a credit equal to the jackpot value to an account of the winning player.

[0046] The jackpot payment form can be turned in to the casino accounting or auditing department. The form alerts accounting or auditing personnel that a witnessing attendant signature was not required for the transaction, obviating the need to match a jackpot payment form with a witnessing attendant code or signature.

[0047] As was mentioned above, a witnessing attendant of a conventional “pouch pay” may not physically sign a jackpot payment form during the witnessed payment. Instead, the accounting and/or internal control department of the casino matches the code inputted by the witnessing attendant at the gaming machine with the unsigned jackpot payment form later generated by the payment attendant. This step is eliminated in the present method.

[0048] In conventional gaming establishments, all pouch-pay transactions have a witness thereto; only machine-dispensed jackpot values need not be witnessed. The present system and method provide a jackpot payment verification protocol less labor-intensive than conventional systems. A pouch payment conducted in accordance with the method described herein can be executed with one attendant v. the two attendants currently standard in the gaming industry. As well, the number of witnesses to a jackpot payment typically grows with the jackpot amount. Therefore, it can be could inferred that one fewer attendant is required with the present system verification than with conventional methods.

[0049] The above method can similarly be employed for a player wishing to cash out and receive accumulated winnings. If the cash-out amount is larger than is traditionally dispensed from the hopper or is a larger amount than the casino would prefer to print on a jackpot ticket for the player to redeem, the conventional cash-out procedure can be efficaciously replaced with the present method.

[0050] The present method also can be employed in a “pouch-pay” of a jackpot amount, as illustrated in FIG. 5. When the payment attendant inputs a code at the gaming machine, the jackpot processing center can detect the jackpot value through the jackpot signal or the payment user transaction signal and determine if the jackpot value qualifies for witness-less hand-payment.

[0051] If so, a message can be sent to the gaming machine, instructing the payment attendant that a witnessing attendant is not required. The payment attendant then can pay the player immediately with on-hand funds.

[0052] The jackpot payment user subsequently can complete the jackpot transaction at the FJP. Generally, the payment user would enter an identification code at the FJP, and select the jackpot transaction corresponding to the just-paid jackpot. The system can confirm that the user's reimbursement amount is not greater than the jackpot value that was paid to the gaming player. Funds then can be dispensed to the jackpot payment user to equip him for further pouch-pay transactions.

[0053] A jackpot transaction form can be printed with indicia that a witnessing attendant was not required for the hand-payment. The FJP also can dispense reimbursing funds to the payment user.

[0054] Parameters of the jackpot transaction and payment can be stored in a jackpot payment database. Parameters of the jackpot value credit authorization can include the jackpot value, a gaming machine identifier, gaming machine chronological data, and a jackpot payment user identifier. Such data can be used by the casino for, e.g., internal control procedures or compliance with regulatory requirements.

[0055] The present method alternatively can determine a pouch-pay value limit of the payment attendant. A payment user identifier can be compared with a look-up table of payment user value limits. If the jackpot value is not greater than the value limit of the payment user, a witness-less pouch-pay procedure can be authorized. If the payment user is not permitted to hand-pay a jackpot of that magnitude, the jackpot center server can decline to authorize a witness-less pouch-pay jackpot transaction.

[0056] The present method can alternatively include a determination by the jackpot processing center of whether the payment attendant has permission to perform jackpot hand-payments (FIG. 6). A payment user identifier can be compared with a look-up table of permitted payment users. If the payment user is not permitted to hand-pay a jackpot, the jackpot processing center can decline to authorize the jackpot transaction. A record of the decline also can be logged.

[0057] The above method provides several advantages over conventional hand-pay methodologies. First, logging of the jackpot payment provides improved financial control and oversight. Electronic hand-pay witnessing reduces the risk of employee fraud, both by electronically documenting the payment and by minimizing the role of employees in the hand-pay procedure.

[0058] The gaming experience also is enhanced for the player, as delays in hand-paying a jackpot are reduced. Reduction in gaming machine lock time increases casino gaming activity and potential revenue. Lastly, minimization of personnel involvement reduces labor costs for the casino.

[0059] A person skilled in the art will be able to practice the present invention in view of the description present in this document, which is to be taken as a whole. Numerous details have been set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail in order not to obscure unnecessarily the invention.

[0060] While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense. Indeed, it should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the present description that the invention can be modified in numerous ways. The inventor regards the subject matter of the invention to include all combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for authorizing a manual payment of a gaming jackpot, comprising: receiving a jackpot winning signal from a gaming machine, said jackpot signal including a jackpot value of a player; receiving a payment user transaction signal, said transaction signal including a payment user identifier and a jackpot transaction value; generating a confirmed jackpot value if the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal is equal to the jackpot transaction value of the transaction signal; authorizing transfer of the confirmed jackpot value to the player without a requirement for a corroborating payment witnessing user; and creating a record of the authorized transfer.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein creating a record of the authorized transfer comprises printing a jackpot payment transaction receipt including indicia indicating that authorization was granted without the requirement for a corroborating payment witnessing user.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: suspending said gaming machine to prevent further gaming play thereon.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: transferring the confirmed jackpot value to the player.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: releasing the gaming machine to permit gaming play thereon.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating an unconfirmed jackpot value signal if the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal is not equal to the jackpot transaction value of the transaction signal; and generating a witness summoning signal.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: comparing the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal to a maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value; and requiring a corroborating payment witnessing user if the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal is greater than a witness-less jackpot manual payment maximum value.
 8. An article comprising a storage medium, said storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing device, result in: receiving a jackpot winning signal from a gaming machine, said jackpot signal including a jackpot value of a player; receiving a payment user transaction signal, said transaction signal including a payment user identifier and a jackpot transaction value; generating a confirmed jackpot value if the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal is equal to the jackpot transaction value of the transaction signal; authorizing transfer of the confirmed jackpot value to the player without a requirement for a corroborating payment witnessing user; and creating a record of the authorized transfer.
 9. A method for corroborating a gaming machine jackpot payment, comprising: generating a jackpot winning signal corresponding to a jackpot won by a gaming player of a gaming machine, said jackpot winning signal including a jackpot value; determining a jackpot payment user authorization; verifying the jackpot value; creating a jackpot transaction record indicating authorization of a transfer of the jackpot value without a corroborating jackpot payment user; and authorizing the jackpot payment user to credit the jackpot value to the winning player without a jackpot payment corroborating witness.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein creating a jackpot transaction record comprises printing a jackpot payment transaction receipt including indicia indicating that authorization was granted without the requirement for a corroborating payment witnessing user.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the jackpot winning signal includes at least one of chronological data or a gaming machine identifier.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein determining a jackpot payment user authorization comprises determining a jackpot manual payment permission of the jackpot payment user.
 13. The method of claim 9 wherein determining a jackpot payment user authorization comprises: comparing a jackpot payment user identification code entered at the gaming machine to a stored jackpot payment user identification code; and authorizing the jackpot payment user to credit the jackpot value to the winning player without a jackpot payment corroborating witness if the entered identification code matches the stored identification code.
 14. The method of claim 9 wherein determining a jackpot payment user authorization comprises generating a jackpot manual payment permission request for the jackpot payment user if said jackpot payment user does not have an associated jackpot manual payment permission.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: logging the jackpot manual payment permission request.
 16. The method of claim 9, further comprising: crediting the jackpot value to the winning player.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein crediting the jackpot value to the winning player comprises dispensing to the winning player cash equal to the jackpot value, dispensing to the winning player a check in the amount of the jackpot value, assigning a credit equal to the jackpot value to the credit meter of the gaming machine, or assigning a credit equal to the jackpot value to an account of the winning player.
 18. The method of claim 9, further comprising: comparing the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal to a jackpot manual witness payment value; and declining to authorize the jackpot payment user to credit the jackpot value to the winning player if the jackpot value of the jackpot winning signal is greater than the jackpot manual witness payment value.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the jackpot manual witness payment value is a selectable value.
 20. The method of claim 9, further comprising: storing parameters of the jackpot value credit authorization in a jackpot payment database.
 21. The method of claim 20 wherein parameters of the jackpot value credit authorization include at least one of the jackpot value, a gaming machine identifier, gaming machine chronological data, and a jackpot payment user identifier.
 22. A method for paying a gaming machine jackpot, comprising: generating a jackpot payment transaction request from a jackpot payment user; verifying a jackpot payment request value with a jackpot signal value of a jackpot signal transmitted from a gaming machine; authorizing a transfer without a jackpot payment corroborating witness of a verified jackpot value to a player of said gaming machine; and printing a jackpot payment transaction receipt including indicia that a jackpot payment corroborating witness is not required for the transfer of the verified jackpot value.
 23. The method of claim 22 wherein the jackpot signal further includes at least one of a gaming player identity value, a gaming machine identity value, a chronological value, or gaming outcome data.
 24. The method of claim 22 wherein the jackpot payment transaction request further includes a jackpot payment user identity value.
 25. The method of claim 22 wherein verifying the jackpot value comprises: comparing the jackpot value of the jackpot signal to a maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value; and requiring a jackpot payment corroborating witness if the jackpot value of the jackpot signal is greater than the maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value.
 26. The method of claim 22 wherein the maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value is a selectable value.
 27. The method of claim 22 wherein verifying the jackpot value comprises: comparing the jackpot payment request value of the jackpot payment transaction request to a maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value; and requiring a jackpot payment corroborating witness if the jackpot payment request value is greater than the maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value; else authorizing the jackpot payment transaction request without a payment corroborating witness requirement.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the maximum jackpot witness-less manual payment value is a selectable value.
 29. The method of claim 22 wherein verifying the jackpot value comprises correlating the jackpot signal value with the jackpot payment request value.
 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising: rejecting the jackpot payment transaction request if the jackpot signal value is not equal to the jackpot payment request value; and storing the jackpot payment transaction request rejection.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein transferring the jackpot value comprises crediting the jackpot value to a player account.
 32. The method of claim 22, further comprising: transferring the jackpot value from the jackpot payment user to the gaming player of said gaming machine.
 33. The method of claim 32 wherein transferring the jackpot value to a player comprises physically transferring a tangible value medium from the jackpot payment user to the player.
 34. The method of claim 22, further comprising: storing jackpot value transfer data in a jackpot payment data log.
 35. The method of claim 34 wherein storing jackpot value transfer data comprises storing data representing at least one of the jackpot signal or the jackpot payment transaction request.
 36. The method of claim 22 wherein authorizing a jackpot value transfer comprises: determining if the jackpot payment user has an associated jackpot manual payment permission; approving the jackpot payment transaction request if the jackpot payment user has an associated jackpot manual payment permission; and assigning a jackpot value transfer authorization code. 37 The method of claim 36 wherein: storing jackpot value transfer data comprises storing the jackpot payment transaction request and the jackpot value transfer authorization code.
 38. The method of claim 36, further comprising: rejecting the jackpot payment transaction request if the jackpot payment user does not have an associated jackpot manual payment permission.
 39. The method of claim 36, further comprising: comparing the jackpot payment request value to a jackpot payment value limit associated with the jackpot payment user; approving the jackpot payment transaction request if the jackpot payment request value is equal to or less than the jackpot payment value limit; and rejecting the jackpot payment transaction request if the jackpot payment request value is greater than the jackpot payment value limit.
 40. A method for corroborating a gaming machine jackpot payment, comprising: receiving a jackpot signal from the gaming machine, said jackpot signal corresponding to a jackpot won by a gaming player of a gaming machine and including a jackpot value; receiving a jackpot payment request initiated by a jackpot payment user at the gaming machine, said jackpot payment request including a user identification signal and a jackpot payment value; determining a jackpot payment authorization for the jackpot payment user; comparing the jackpot value and the jackpot payment value; authorizing the jackpot payment user to pay the jackpot value to the winning player at the gaming machine without a jackpot payment corroborating witness if the jackpot value and the jackpot payment value are equal; paying the jackpot value to the gaming player; and storing parameters of the jackpot value payment in a jackpot payment database.
 41. The method of claim 40, further comprising: receiving a jackpot reimbursement request from a jackpot payment user at a value station remote from the gaming machine, said transaction reimbursement request including the user identification signal; comparing the user identification signal of the jackpot reimbursement request with the user identification signal of the jackpot transaction request; authorizing a reimbursement of the jackpot value to the jackpot payment user if the user identification signals match; and printing a jackpot transaction record indicating authorization of a transfer of the jackpot value without a corroborating jackpot payment user. 